I know it's been quite a while since I've added anything here, but while the first few books are relatively straight forward, starting with this book it really requires me to think about how you organize and plan for a TV production what you could condense and what could be expanded. I've also been trying to continue my reread, but have once again encountered the slog and it is noticeable how much slower the pace becomes starting in book 6 a bit, and very much so by book 7. I wanted to give this fourth season plenty of my attention because it gets way more complicated after this one in terms of density and run time, there will be plot points excised and chapters ignored after this point which is consuming to consider.
I've still got to work on some of what I would want focus on in each episode for flow, however I have at this point figured out the arrangement of chapters. There is a very dense early episode, and the last few encompass only a few chapters each. This will be the first season I put out that breaks the 8 episode mark, with my outline reaching 9 episodes for the content in The Shadow Rising. I think that my outlines will end up having more episodes per season than the first 3 from here on out generally as there is more ground to cover and books will begin being combined starting with my next season.
As a preview to illustrate my point:
Episode 2 covers 13 chapters of material (9-21 mostly), which is a lot, but I think it's really important we not spend too much time in Tear when the most important parts of this book are elsewhere despite the time dedicated in the book to the politics of Rand's decisions. There is enough content you could stretch out here into at least 2 episodes, but this is already going to be a long series and we need to condense some material somewhere especially given the extra time I would want to dedicate to other sequences later. As much fun as the calmer slice of life stuff that is hinted at in the early parts of this book, I just don't think we need a ton of it. The romances in particular in this world move at lightning speed so I think we can let some of that happen in the show too.
Episode 9 meanwhile is 3 chapters worth of content. I had some smaller parts broken out, but I felt like a really epic pair of episodes to finish out the season would be great. Since the prior 3 were 8, I wanted 8 to feel like it could be a finale too.
My real debate is whether the climax in Tanicho and with the Aiel/Rhuidean should be one episode or if each plot point deserves it's own. I feel like for TV both of those adventures will visually be possible to add something to, whether that is additional action or otherwise. For now I've got them as two separate pieces. Each plot thread gets its own sort of finale episode this season so each one has it's space to breathe and do more with.
I promise I'll have a full outline up soon!
Friday, April 26, 2019
Monday, April 1, 2019
Season Three of the Wheel of Time : The Dragon Reborn (or The Heart of the Stone)
By the start of this season the scope and stakes of the story have started to come into view, not really clearly defined as most everyone is still wandering in the dark, but you've got a sense of what the consequences of our heroes' failure is. This season and this book I don't think advances it as much as the next will, but it provides us our first truly different narrative which will get repeated in the later books. Rand is hardly in this story and we will only see glimpses of him outside of the first and last episodes. This does provide space for other characters to grow and show their stuff which I think is necessary. This season will also be more complicated in it's cuts than the second and considerably more complex in the narrative than the first or the second. I expect this to be the first season that represents what the show would model itself after for the remainder of its run. There are at least 3 or 4 different plot lines advancing at the same time and while they all converge, unlike in the prior 2 books/seasons they aren't all on the same path with a common goal, there simply ends up being some overlap. Stories begin to diverge here in this third season and we will find out that as everyone's capabilities grow so will the threats and dangers around them. I do think that the chapters are more evenly allocated per episode this season than they were in the second which got lopsided early and stretched out towards the finale.
I also feel that this season is where a few other liberties for TV will be taken. Both Egwene and Nynaeve are raised to be accepted, but in the books we only know what Egwene saw. They don't need to share Elayne's, but given her prime character status I think it would be a benefit to share her's as well. I always felt the reason we didn't get it is because Jordan hadn't decided if she would be a POV character or not yet. Some of Rand's travels I think can be sort of mixed/combined together. They don't need to be separate and not seeing him every episode will hammer the point across he's really on his own, he needs to be isolated literally and visually. Mat and Perrin get to step forward this season as well which will be fun. The cast is going to get a lot larger this season which will be a bit of a challenge compared to the tighter prior two. This will be especially important as there are characters we only briefly meet this season that will step into much larger/central roles in the next one (namely the Aiel). There is a little room to flesh out some of these sequences and I expect them to do so. Now that Tel'Aran'Roihad is a central device too with Egwene there will need to be a smart way to share the dream sequences that become a prevalent setting for story advancements and foreshadowing.
I also feel that this season is where a few other liberties for TV will be taken. Both Egwene and Nynaeve are raised to be accepted, but in the books we only know what Egwene saw. They don't need to share Elayne's, but given her prime character status I think it would be a benefit to share her's as well. I always felt the reason we didn't get it is because Jordan hadn't decided if she would be a POV character or not yet. Some of Rand's travels I think can be sort of mixed/combined together. They don't need to be separate and not seeing him every episode will hammer the point across he's really on his own, he needs to be isolated literally and visually. Mat and Perrin get to step forward this season as well which will be fun. The cast is going to get a lot larger this season which will be a bit of a challenge compared to the tighter prior two. This will be especially important as there are characters we only briefly meet this season that will step into much larger/central roles in the next one (namely the Aiel). There is a little room to flesh out some of these sequences and I expect them to do so. Now that Tel'Aran'Roihad is a central device too with Egwene there will need to be a smart way to share the dream sequences that become a prevalent setting for story advancements and foreshadowing.
Once again, you will see [1/2] or [2/2] next to a chapter in my listing, that means I have broken apart the narrative of the chapter for how I would want to present the material inside each episode. It does not mean a neat 50/50 split of the material. Chapters connected with a , are concurrent. Chapters connected with a / are POV or narrative shifts.
Episode 17 - Karatheon Cycle
Chapters - Prologue[1/2] / 1,2,3,4,5 / Prologue[2/2]
We will open with Pedron Nial meeting with Fain under a new name, sharing the printing of Rand and Ba'alzamon fighting in the sky over Falme (including kicking Carradin out, but that can be shorter than in the book including the report from Byar, that can really be done by Fain if we need an info dump at all). The cut after this will be the opening of the Wind which will encompass showing us the info deliver in Ch. 50 of TGH (it's like a paragraph about the story spreading) before arriving in the camp of the Dragon Reborn settling on Perrin. Have time to spend with Min & Rand, Perrin talking with Min as well. We can have some wolf dreams that will be the first time we really see Callandor (although it'll become a recurring image). We will conclude the episode with the attack by the Trollocs that convinces them it's time to move with everyone heading to a less than comfortable sleep. Post credits we will come back to finish the prologue with the reminder that Carradin is a Darkfriend as he is confronted by the Mydraall to kill Rand. The whole first episode will focus on the Rand & Co outside of the prologue material.
Episode 18 - The White Tower
Chapters - 10,11 / 12 / 13,14 / 15,16,17,18
This should show some of the trek with Mat towards Tar Valon sharing that he has been getting worse since they left and is hardly there at all when they arrive. We need to get a lot accomplished in this episode all in the White Tower. We will get their meeting with the Amyrlin and Verin sharing info with her along with the knowledge that Egwene and Elayne are to complete the Accepted test. The Gray Man and it's ensuing mystery establishes the Tower isn't wholly safe either, we should get some of Eladia moving around seeming untrustworthy before the finale with Mat's healing.
Episode 19 - The Way Out of the Mountains
Chapters - 6,7,8 / 19,20 / 9[1/2] / 21,22,23 / 9[2/2]
We need to start with the realization that Rand is on the run having left everyone behind, so the party follows. We should have Perrin's encounter with a man who lost himself to the wolves completely in this first section. I will want to include some tower time here as well with Mat awakening and receiving mixed messages from the Amyrlin/Lanfear leaving him ready to leave asap. Following this we will return to have Perrin enter the wolf dream, but this time because he plans to and meeting Hopper again. Then we can transition back to the tower with the lead up to and the Accepted testing for Egwene and Elayne. I do believe whether its related later or done directly this should include Elayne's testing and 3 visions (which would need to be crafted for this). Egwene receives the T'A'R Ring that will be a central ter'angreal for the future plots. Once we've finished with the girls reconvening to seek comfort with Nynaeve we will wrap up the episode with Rand on the run killing the Darkhounds with balefire seeming very unstable at the moment. We know he's own his own, there are threats after him, and he's definitely seeming a little crazier than you'd hope this early in the story. I want apprehension to be a key feeling at the end of this episode.
Episode 20 - Tar Valon
Chapters - 25,26 / 24 / 27 / 28,29 / 30,31
This episode will mostly wrap up the time in Tar Valon with the girls and Mat. We need to ensure we see Mat prove his skill against the warder trainees; namely Gawyn and Galad. The start of the investigation into the black including the appearance of Lanfear with just enough info to point them towards where they need to be (we know they don't UH OH). We should get plenty of T'A'R exploration in this episode, and Mat's adventure into the city that is started with the letter given to him by Nynaeve. By the end of the episode all our characters here are determined and have their exit routes established and are on their way gone. Mat will finish the episode with Thom on their way to the docks.
Episode 21 - The Falcon
Chapters - 33 / 32[1/2] / 34,35 / 37 / 36[1/2],32[2/2],36[2/2]
After 20 episodes it's time for us to meet Perrin's love interest. We will show her in the first sequence of the episode but save her real introduction for a little later in the episode. I want to show that Thom & Mat are on their way to Camelyn. The attack on the boat is cuttable, but I think there is time to include it showing as always they are never far from danger. We can return to Perrin as he venture out to free the trapped Aiel, who we learn is Gaul (a big casting moment) and get the prophecy about The Stone and the next mention of He Who Comes with the Dawn. The escape brings down the Whitecloaks we heard about and we get the fight that requires them to leave town asap. We will finish this sequence with Faile's introduction on the boat yelling at Perrin as he heads below deck. Where we will transition to our ladies (Nynaeve very ill) and their report of Cairhien burning in Civil War as they pass towards Tear. Egwene relates info on a lot of dreams, but I want to focus on 4 that I think capture the key items of foreshadowing/relevant plot info to make worth putting to visuals.
1) Rand holding a blazing sword (Callandor)
2) Perrin with his spirit animal crew (Wolf, Falcon, Hawk)
3) Mat with the dice bouncing around him
4) Perhaps a flash of the Seanchan as a menacing force not to be forgotten
If there were time or good reason, could include the Whitecloak descent on the Two Rivers, but I think that can happen with out additional foreshadowing. We know what was communicated at the start and this is a long story where that payout can take time, astute viewers will remember when we get there. We will finish the ladies component with them having left the boat and having none other than Aviendha appear before them (cliffhanger, and a HUGE casting moment. I might consider having her have the shoufa up to hide her face for now, but that isn't within their culture and I don't want inconsistencies). Just want to downplay the individual importance which will come back to us and make the moment impactful upon reflection.
It's time to wrap up with Perrin's wolf dream that finishes with him being surprised by Rand. I want to switch the perspectives so that as Rand throws fire at Perrin, we then join him and combine his waking and playing the flute from chapter 32 with the ambush in the night by the Darkfriends with a Grey Man, as he ponders if it really was Perrin we can jump back to him awakening with the burn on his chest. He goes to tell Moraine and we close with Faile watching this conversation, but really Perrin, as they continue on the river.
Episode 22 - Threads in the Pattern
Chapters - 38,39 / 41,42,43 / 40,44[1/2],45 / 44[2/2]
I really struggled with a title for this one. It's mostly travel and setup discussions, honestly this episode probably could be combined with the next to make a 7 episode season thinking on it, but we can have a moment to breathe as the last 2 episodes this one sets up will be very dense.
I would begin with the sequence following Aviendha meeting our trio of ladies as they have left the river. We can have some Aiel introduction and the healing sequence before they go their separate ways. We should then rejoin Perrin and Company in Illian and the city impressions that lead to Moraine's decision to find out what seems to be causing the oppressive atmosphere in Illian. The Grey Man and Darkhound ambush will key the reveal with Moraine's return that a Forsaken has taken root in the city. I would drop Perrin's dream sequence and have Moraine arrive shortly after they finish killing the Grey Men, which means that she can't leave after that. I would adjust the timing of this structure so that she leaves to investigate before it gets dark and returns to see the aftermath of the ambush. Perrin, Lan, Faile and Loial can handle the grey men without needing her so I think that smooths this sequence out and shows a bit more urgency in her feeling that things are wrong in Illian.
Mat and Thom's journey doesn't have to be drawn out, but we need to introduce Aludra (who does reappear later, but doesn't need to be a central casting choice the way others are this season) and the fireworks so that Mat has them in Tear. I want to share his tampering moment (perhaps as a quick transition following their escape/split from Aludra), the ambush will still happen and we will wrap up their bit with their arrival in Camelyn and Mat's unsuccessful attempt to deliver the letter to the palace at the gate which can be our hint that things are not the same as last we saw Camelyn.
The episode would finish with Moraine binding Faile to the group with an oath and the information about Rand/Mat/Perrin being Ta'veren, the Horn, and then their flight from Illian. Our closing shot is the group riding hard on the road to Tear.
Episode 23 - Race with the Shadow
Chapters - 46,47 / 50[1/2] / 48,49[1/2] / 50[2/2] / 49[2/2] / 51
Let's wrap up Mat's excursion to Camelyn where we will get to see Rahvin for the first time as Lord Gaebril. Confirming that the Shadow is present (the information that Gaebril is trying to kill our trio of ladies, Elayne in particular is an important sequence in his delivery). Mat's confidence in his luck grows as they leave Camelyn.
We should get to Perrin/Moraine's arrival in Tear, and the nice sequence of Perrin returning to the forge, with Faile coming to watch him. We will pause this chapter's material with Perrin finishing the day and receiving the hammer as compensation.
Transition to the girls travel to Tear, I want to include a few of the dream sequences Egwene has
- Rand with the dragons slithering onto his arms (she doesn't know they are called that though)
- Perrin with the falcon on his shoulder choosing between the hammer and axe
- Mat reaching out to tell her he is coming to them
They arrive in tear, find the "wisdom" like person nearby who says she can find them a good thief catcher/PI and we get introduced to Juilin Sandar who promises he will find who they are looking for. After this Egwene and the ladies transition to trying to use the ring to find more info, but in fact reveal themselves to Liandrin and the Black Sisters by carelessly showing themselves. Nynaeve's storm arrives as Egwene awakens with the bad news.
We will rejoin Perrin at the Inn and their conversations about Moraine's plan to help ensure Rand survives his encounter with the Forsaken who has setup in Tear (Be'lal), along with a conversation about how Lan has seen the Aiel in Tear although most haven't and Perrin reminds them of the prophesy he heard from Gaul that has brought them out of the Three Fold Land (The Waste to Wetlanders).
We should then see that Mat and Thom have arrived in Tear, with a little bit of their journey showing that Thom is getting ill and worse as they get closer. His luck leads him to the right in to find the man who is after our ladies, and determines that he knows how to use his luck now and they'll surely find the ladies soon after his confrontation ends with the man dead as they head back to their inn for the night.
We are going to finish this episode with Nynaeve as she wanders the streets and believes she sees Rand (in the show it should be obvious that it is him). She bumps into Julian who seems on edge and then we see the trap that's been set for them by the Black Sisters. I want to end this episode with Liandrin's proclamation that they are bringing 13 Myrdraal and we can close with Elayne and Nynaeve's screams in the realization of what that means.
Episode 24 - The Dragon Reborn
Chapters - 49*,52 / 53 / 54 / 55
I want to open this episode with Mat's bad dreams from the very end of Ch. 49 as the opening here to show there is a lot of menace about and potentially while we've seen Rand with Callandor and do again the dream can transition to him dead with Be'lal holding it which awakens him and leads us to him taking Thom to a wisdom who is of course the one who was hosting our trio of ladies until just a few hours prior to him bringing Thom by. Mat leaves Thom in her care and starts crafting his plan to help rescue the ladies as he returns to his Inn.
We will jump back to Perrin working in the Forge with Faile and then returning to the inn at the end of the day (quick sequence), where Moraine says she is sure Rand is in the city due to the volume of odd occurances, and that she plans to deal with Be'lal tonight. She tells Perrin that he/Faile/Loial must head for Tar Valon asap, and as Faile goes to look for Loial picks up the hedgehog sculpture in their private dining room which causes her to become unconscious. Perrin finds her, and is only barely held up by Moraine who explains the ter'angreal's trap. He says he won't leave her behind, and Moraine wishes him luck but cannot help him as she must go to the Stone. Perrin leaps at Faile and is taken to T'A'R as Moraine and Lan leave with Loial to watch over them. Perrin awakens in "the wolf dream" to be greeted by Hopper who again explains the danger of his situation, but agrees to help him find and free Faile.
Time for the spectacular finale, TDR has one of the most action packed and exciting finishes in the entire series, and I want to start it off with an additional scene of Rand creeping along the bottom of the Stone wrapped in the void looking up at his climb. We won't spend very much time there only enough to show that Nynaeve saw correctly and that Moraine's belief he is there is correct. Transition to Mat and the rooftops where he encounters Juilin & Gaul who shares that the Aiel are also moving on the stone tonight, the tug of Rand and his fellow Ta'veren is coming together. Mat catches a glimpse of Rand on the side of the Stone, but doesn't really know it's him and then executes his plan with the fireworks to break in. Once inside we hear the alarm, and we transition to Rand who has made it inside exhausted but determined to find his way to Callandor. We should get a moment with the ladies as they find themselves in the dungeon and come up with the plan to try using T'A'R to aid their escape, which finishes with Egwene shielding Joiya in the Heart of the Stone before trying to find the dungeons to see what she might be able to do to help themselves there. Since we are in the dream world already as Egwene leaves we will find ourselves with Perrin & Hopper's frustration with having found a Faile, but not the true one and their search continues as they tear their way through the trap that was laid. Mat sees Rand, but doesn't have time to call out to him in the midst of beating High Lords up with his quarterstaff, including a humorous lucky moment where shouldering it he knocks out someone he didn't even know was behind him.
The last chapter would be about the last 1/3rd of the episode played out as it is presented. Be'lal mocks Rand proving his skill with a sword, and as Rand is nearly in trouble Moraine arrives to wipe him from the Pattern. Our showdown with Ba'alzamon commences once Rand grasps Callandor and creates another skimming portal to follow Ba'alzaamon. I would streamline the rescue sequence a little with Mat arriving right about when Egwene shields Amico who is guarding them, as he releases them they knock her our and fully free themselves instead of sending Egwene back into the dream for no real outcome. The amount of disrespect shown to Mat might be toned down a little with at least one of them (perhaps Egwene giving them thanks for the rescue, both Elayne and Nynaeve are too stubborn and proud to do so still). I have always been bugged by how they treated him in this sequence and I think a little nicety will pay off for developing relationships later when they travel together again.
Perrin's final sequence can be given a little room to breathe, a few rooms found and nothing gained until he finds the room with the Falcon chained to the hedgehog and as he is assaulted by them he pushes on until he breaks the hedgehog with his hammer. He and Faile return to the waking world where they are still on the floor and Perrin is hurt. Faile comforts him and the both whisper their confessions of love and care for each other.
Rand finally after chasing the intimidated Ba'alzaamon back to the heart of the stone, severs his connection to the Dark One, impales him with Callandor. Rand feeling that he has finally won, swells with the power making Callandor shine brighter than the sun, summons lightning all through the Stone. When the fighting has stopped (Aiel, Defenders, etc) he declares himself the Dragon Reborn while everyone kneels down in recognition of him. Head to the credits...
Our short epilogue will quickly show the aftermath of Rand's triumph. Moraine has found a seal (intact) which means the fight is still on going especially given the rate at which the body of Ba'alzamon decomposed it seemed very old. Mat is party to this when a letter is delivered to Moraine, it is from Lanfear. I would not have Berelain do this for a short sequence we can meet her next season. The reveals of the arm & the People of the Dragon I would save for the next season, not all of this chapters material would be in this epilogue. As the words of the letter sink in we find that the people are cheering in the streets of Tear for Rand al'Thor, THE DRAGON REBORN, as his banner now flies not on a lonely stick like last season with few people around him but to the cheers of people as it flies above the Stone of Tear. We focus on the dragon rippling in the wind specifically as a tease for what Rand will learn in the next season.
Episode 17 - Karatheon Cycle
Chapters - Prologue[1/2] / 1,2,3,4,5 / Prologue[2/2]
We will open with Pedron Nial meeting with Fain under a new name, sharing the printing of Rand and Ba'alzamon fighting in the sky over Falme (including kicking Carradin out, but that can be shorter than in the book including the report from Byar, that can really be done by Fain if we need an info dump at all). The cut after this will be the opening of the Wind which will encompass showing us the info deliver in Ch. 50 of TGH (it's like a paragraph about the story spreading) before arriving in the camp of the Dragon Reborn settling on Perrin. Have time to spend with Min & Rand, Perrin talking with Min as well. We can have some wolf dreams that will be the first time we really see Callandor (although it'll become a recurring image). We will conclude the episode with the attack by the Trollocs that convinces them it's time to move with everyone heading to a less than comfortable sleep. Post credits we will come back to finish the prologue with the reminder that Carradin is a Darkfriend as he is confronted by the Mydraall to kill Rand. The whole first episode will focus on the Rand & Co outside of the prologue material.
Episode 18 - The White Tower
Chapters - 10,11 / 12 / 13,14 / 15,16,17,18
This should show some of the trek with Mat towards Tar Valon sharing that he has been getting worse since they left and is hardly there at all when they arrive. We need to get a lot accomplished in this episode all in the White Tower. We will get their meeting with the Amyrlin and Verin sharing info with her along with the knowledge that Egwene and Elayne are to complete the Accepted test. The Gray Man and it's ensuing mystery establishes the Tower isn't wholly safe either, we should get some of Eladia moving around seeming untrustworthy before the finale with Mat's healing.
Episode 19 - The Way Out of the Mountains
Chapters - 6,7,8 / 19,20 / 9[1/2] / 21,22,23 / 9[2/2]
We need to start with the realization that Rand is on the run having left everyone behind, so the party follows. We should have Perrin's encounter with a man who lost himself to the wolves completely in this first section. I will want to include some tower time here as well with Mat awakening and receiving mixed messages from the Amyrlin/Lanfear leaving him ready to leave asap. Following this we will return to have Perrin enter the wolf dream, but this time because he plans to and meeting Hopper again. Then we can transition back to the tower with the lead up to and the Accepted testing for Egwene and Elayne. I do believe whether its related later or done directly this should include Elayne's testing and 3 visions (which would need to be crafted for this). Egwene receives the T'A'R Ring that will be a central ter'angreal for the future plots. Once we've finished with the girls reconvening to seek comfort with Nynaeve we will wrap up the episode with Rand on the run killing the Darkhounds with balefire seeming very unstable at the moment. We know he's own his own, there are threats after him, and he's definitely seeming a little crazier than you'd hope this early in the story. I want apprehension to be a key feeling at the end of this episode.
Episode 20 - Tar Valon
Chapters - 25,26 / 24 / 27 / 28,29 / 30,31
This episode will mostly wrap up the time in Tar Valon with the girls and Mat. We need to ensure we see Mat prove his skill against the warder trainees; namely Gawyn and Galad. The start of the investigation into the black including the appearance of Lanfear with just enough info to point them towards where they need to be (we know they don't UH OH). We should get plenty of T'A'R exploration in this episode, and Mat's adventure into the city that is started with the letter given to him by Nynaeve. By the end of the episode all our characters here are determined and have their exit routes established and are on their way gone. Mat will finish the episode with Thom on their way to the docks.
Episode 21 - The Falcon
Chapters - 33 / 32[1/2] / 34,35 / 37 / 36[1/2],32[2/2],36[2/2]
After 20 episodes it's time for us to meet Perrin's love interest. We will show her in the first sequence of the episode but save her real introduction for a little later in the episode. I want to show that Thom & Mat are on their way to Camelyn. The attack on the boat is cuttable, but I think there is time to include it showing as always they are never far from danger. We can return to Perrin as he venture out to free the trapped Aiel, who we learn is Gaul (a big casting moment) and get the prophecy about The Stone and the next mention of He Who Comes with the Dawn. The escape brings down the Whitecloaks we heard about and we get the fight that requires them to leave town asap. We will finish this sequence with Faile's introduction on the boat yelling at Perrin as he heads below deck. Where we will transition to our ladies (Nynaeve very ill) and their report of Cairhien burning in Civil War as they pass towards Tear. Egwene relates info on a lot of dreams, but I want to focus on 4 that I think capture the key items of foreshadowing/relevant plot info to make worth putting to visuals.
1) Rand holding a blazing sword (Callandor)
2) Perrin with his spirit animal crew (Wolf, Falcon, Hawk)
3) Mat with the dice bouncing around him
4) Perhaps a flash of the Seanchan as a menacing force not to be forgotten
If there were time or good reason, could include the Whitecloak descent on the Two Rivers, but I think that can happen with out additional foreshadowing. We know what was communicated at the start and this is a long story where that payout can take time, astute viewers will remember when we get there. We will finish the ladies component with them having left the boat and having none other than Aviendha appear before them (cliffhanger, and a HUGE casting moment. I might consider having her have the shoufa up to hide her face for now, but that isn't within their culture and I don't want inconsistencies). Just want to downplay the individual importance which will come back to us and make the moment impactful upon reflection.
It's time to wrap up with Perrin's wolf dream that finishes with him being surprised by Rand. I want to switch the perspectives so that as Rand throws fire at Perrin, we then join him and combine his waking and playing the flute from chapter 32 with the ambush in the night by the Darkfriends with a Grey Man, as he ponders if it really was Perrin we can jump back to him awakening with the burn on his chest. He goes to tell Moraine and we close with Faile watching this conversation, but really Perrin, as they continue on the river.
Episode 22 - Threads in the Pattern
Chapters - 38,39 / 41,42,43 / 40,44[1/2],45 / 44[2/2]
I really struggled with a title for this one. It's mostly travel and setup discussions, honestly this episode probably could be combined with the next to make a 7 episode season thinking on it, but we can have a moment to breathe as the last 2 episodes this one sets up will be very dense.
I would begin with the sequence following Aviendha meeting our trio of ladies as they have left the river. We can have some Aiel introduction and the healing sequence before they go their separate ways. We should then rejoin Perrin and Company in Illian and the city impressions that lead to Moraine's decision to find out what seems to be causing the oppressive atmosphere in Illian. The Grey Man and Darkhound ambush will key the reveal with Moraine's return that a Forsaken has taken root in the city. I would drop Perrin's dream sequence and have Moraine arrive shortly after they finish killing the Grey Men, which means that she can't leave after that. I would adjust the timing of this structure so that she leaves to investigate before it gets dark and returns to see the aftermath of the ambush. Perrin, Lan, Faile and Loial can handle the grey men without needing her so I think that smooths this sequence out and shows a bit more urgency in her feeling that things are wrong in Illian.
Mat and Thom's journey doesn't have to be drawn out, but we need to introduce Aludra (who does reappear later, but doesn't need to be a central casting choice the way others are this season) and the fireworks so that Mat has them in Tear. I want to share his tampering moment (perhaps as a quick transition following their escape/split from Aludra), the ambush will still happen and we will wrap up their bit with their arrival in Camelyn and Mat's unsuccessful attempt to deliver the letter to the palace at the gate which can be our hint that things are not the same as last we saw Camelyn.
The episode would finish with Moraine binding Faile to the group with an oath and the information about Rand/Mat/Perrin being Ta'veren, the Horn, and then their flight from Illian. Our closing shot is the group riding hard on the road to Tear.
Episode 23 - Race with the Shadow
Chapters - 46,47 / 50[1/2] / 48,49[1/2] / 50[2/2] / 49[2/2] / 51
Let's wrap up Mat's excursion to Camelyn where we will get to see Rahvin for the first time as Lord Gaebril. Confirming that the Shadow is present (the information that Gaebril is trying to kill our trio of ladies, Elayne in particular is an important sequence in his delivery). Mat's confidence in his luck grows as they leave Camelyn.
We should get to Perrin/Moraine's arrival in Tear, and the nice sequence of Perrin returning to the forge, with Faile coming to watch him. We will pause this chapter's material with Perrin finishing the day and receiving the hammer as compensation.
Transition to the girls travel to Tear, I want to include a few of the dream sequences Egwene has
- Rand with the dragons slithering onto his arms (she doesn't know they are called that though)
- Perrin with the falcon on his shoulder choosing between the hammer and axe
- Mat reaching out to tell her he is coming to them
They arrive in tear, find the "wisdom" like person nearby who says she can find them a good thief catcher/PI and we get introduced to Juilin Sandar who promises he will find who they are looking for. After this Egwene and the ladies transition to trying to use the ring to find more info, but in fact reveal themselves to Liandrin and the Black Sisters by carelessly showing themselves. Nynaeve's storm arrives as Egwene awakens with the bad news.
We will rejoin Perrin at the Inn and their conversations about Moraine's plan to help ensure Rand survives his encounter with the Forsaken who has setup in Tear (Be'lal), along with a conversation about how Lan has seen the Aiel in Tear although most haven't and Perrin reminds them of the prophesy he heard from Gaul that has brought them out of the Three Fold Land (The Waste to Wetlanders).
We should then see that Mat and Thom have arrived in Tear, with a little bit of their journey showing that Thom is getting ill and worse as they get closer. His luck leads him to the right in to find the man who is after our ladies, and determines that he knows how to use his luck now and they'll surely find the ladies soon after his confrontation ends with the man dead as they head back to their inn for the night.
We are going to finish this episode with Nynaeve as she wanders the streets and believes she sees Rand (in the show it should be obvious that it is him). She bumps into Julian who seems on edge and then we see the trap that's been set for them by the Black Sisters. I want to end this episode with Liandrin's proclamation that they are bringing 13 Myrdraal and we can close with Elayne and Nynaeve's screams in the realization of what that means.
Episode 24 - The Dragon Reborn
Chapters - 49*,52 / 53 / 54 / 55
I want to open this episode with Mat's bad dreams from the very end of Ch. 49 as the opening here to show there is a lot of menace about and potentially while we've seen Rand with Callandor and do again the dream can transition to him dead with Be'lal holding it which awakens him and leads us to him taking Thom to a wisdom who is of course the one who was hosting our trio of ladies until just a few hours prior to him bringing Thom by. Mat leaves Thom in her care and starts crafting his plan to help rescue the ladies as he returns to his Inn.
We will jump back to Perrin working in the Forge with Faile and then returning to the inn at the end of the day (quick sequence), where Moraine says she is sure Rand is in the city due to the volume of odd occurances, and that she plans to deal with Be'lal tonight. She tells Perrin that he/Faile/Loial must head for Tar Valon asap, and as Faile goes to look for Loial picks up the hedgehog sculpture in their private dining room which causes her to become unconscious. Perrin finds her, and is only barely held up by Moraine who explains the ter'angreal's trap. He says he won't leave her behind, and Moraine wishes him luck but cannot help him as she must go to the Stone. Perrin leaps at Faile and is taken to T'A'R as Moraine and Lan leave with Loial to watch over them. Perrin awakens in "the wolf dream" to be greeted by Hopper who again explains the danger of his situation, but agrees to help him find and free Faile.
Time for the spectacular finale, TDR has one of the most action packed and exciting finishes in the entire series, and I want to start it off with an additional scene of Rand creeping along the bottom of the Stone wrapped in the void looking up at his climb. We won't spend very much time there only enough to show that Nynaeve saw correctly and that Moraine's belief he is there is correct. Transition to Mat and the rooftops where he encounters Juilin & Gaul who shares that the Aiel are also moving on the stone tonight, the tug of Rand and his fellow Ta'veren is coming together. Mat catches a glimpse of Rand on the side of the Stone, but doesn't really know it's him and then executes his plan with the fireworks to break in. Once inside we hear the alarm, and we transition to Rand who has made it inside exhausted but determined to find his way to Callandor. We should get a moment with the ladies as they find themselves in the dungeon and come up with the plan to try using T'A'R to aid their escape, which finishes with Egwene shielding Joiya in the Heart of the Stone before trying to find the dungeons to see what she might be able to do to help themselves there. Since we are in the dream world already as Egwene leaves we will find ourselves with Perrin & Hopper's frustration with having found a Faile, but not the true one and their search continues as they tear their way through the trap that was laid. Mat sees Rand, but doesn't have time to call out to him in the midst of beating High Lords up with his quarterstaff, including a humorous lucky moment where shouldering it he knocks out someone he didn't even know was behind him.
The last chapter would be about the last 1/3rd of the episode played out as it is presented. Be'lal mocks Rand proving his skill with a sword, and as Rand is nearly in trouble Moraine arrives to wipe him from the Pattern. Our showdown with Ba'alzamon commences once Rand grasps Callandor and creates another skimming portal to follow Ba'alzaamon. I would streamline the rescue sequence a little with Mat arriving right about when Egwene shields Amico who is guarding them, as he releases them they knock her our and fully free themselves instead of sending Egwene back into the dream for no real outcome. The amount of disrespect shown to Mat might be toned down a little with at least one of them (perhaps Egwene giving them thanks for the rescue, both Elayne and Nynaeve are too stubborn and proud to do so still). I have always been bugged by how they treated him in this sequence and I think a little nicety will pay off for developing relationships later when they travel together again.
Perrin's final sequence can be given a little room to breathe, a few rooms found and nothing gained until he finds the room with the Falcon chained to the hedgehog and as he is assaulted by them he pushes on until he breaks the hedgehog with his hammer. He and Faile return to the waking world where they are still on the floor and Perrin is hurt. Faile comforts him and the both whisper their confessions of love and care for each other.
Rand finally after chasing the intimidated Ba'alzaamon back to the heart of the stone, severs his connection to the Dark One, impales him with Callandor. Rand feeling that he has finally won, swells with the power making Callandor shine brighter than the sun, summons lightning all through the Stone. When the fighting has stopped (Aiel, Defenders, etc) he declares himself the Dragon Reborn while everyone kneels down in recognition of him. Head to the credits...
Our short epilogue will quickly show the aftermath of Rand's triumph. Moraine has found a seal (intact) which means the fight is still on going especially given the rate at which the body of Ba'alzamon decomposed it seemed very old. Mat is party to this when a letter is delivered to Moraine, it is from Lanfear. I would not have Berelain do this for a short sequence we can meet her next season. The reveals of the arm & the People of the Dragon I would save for the next season, not all of this chapters material would be in this epilogue. As the words of the letter sink in we find that the people are cheering in the streets of Tear for Rand al'Thor, THE DRAGON REBORN, as his banner now flies not on a lonely stick like last season with few people around him but to the cheers of people as it flies above the Stone of Tear. We focus on the dragon rippling in the wind specifically as a tease for what Rand will learn in the next season.
So I'm starting into Book 7 during my reread...
While Lord of Chaos felt like we had included a lot of detail and space to move slowly the plot points it had, the start of A Crown of Swords is even more so. There are many fans that refer to "The Slog" as books 8-10, but I can already feel in Book 7 Jordan really felt like he could get away with an enormous volume of descriptive literature that isn't really advancing anything. It's detailed and comprehensive in taking what I might perceive to be a very small window of time and making it last multiple chapters.
The aftermath of Dumai Wells takes the better part of the first 100 pages (including the prologue) of the book. Frankly given the pace at which the first 4 to 5 books moved its practically glacial. I can already see that when I look at how you would want to arrange this into a TV show, we are going to be cutting or seriously shrinking the material a lot for this section.
This leads me to think that realistically my total season volume is going to be 8 or 9 total seasons. There will probably be an expansion past the 8 episode total I've hit for the first 3, I think the 4th season is likely to encroach on 10 episodes, but from there I will be combining multiple books into a season. The Fires of Heaven and Lord of Chaos while I had originally thought they would be separated or a finale would adjust how you combine that material, I feel like those 2 being the first combined season is what I will aim for.
7-10 may very well become 1 longer season of material. While the last books are huge, and still deeply descriptive they are also a lot more condensed in terms of characters and plot arcs which I think will help with figuring pacing it as a show.
I think that what is mostly likely to happen is I will be able to put together the first 5 seasons of material from the first 6 books, and then there may be a good gap between when I complete that part and when I tackle the second half of the series. There will be a lot to piece together across multiple books from 7-10 which will be the most taxing part and will require me to finish reading all of them before I can start breaking them out. It is almost startling how you notice things slowing down in LoC then you start CoS and suddenly it's really noticeable how much slower the story is about to get. Reading the jacket covers even seems to show that plots which would have been resolved in a book have been given multi book arcs as the story has gotten fractured enough with the characters to "need" that spread out. I really think trying to adapt it into TV a lot of streamlining of this middle arc is going to be necessary. I suspect you will either start to see me putting far more chapters together into each episode as each chapter has less advancement material in it, or I may just begin excising chapters with limited narrative value.
Tentatively this is how I see myself arranging the materials now that I'm about halfway through.
Season 1 - Eye of the World
Season 2 - The Great Hunt
Season 3 - The Dragon Reborn
Season 4 - The Shadow Rising
Season 5 - Fires of Heaven & Lord of Chaos
Season 6 - Crown of Swords + Path of Daggers + Winters Heart + Crossroads of Twilight
Season 7 - Knife of Dreams & The Gathering Storm
Season 8 - Towers of Midnight & A Memory of Light
Potentially Season 6 might get split depending on how much of that run I think should be included, but the slog is all concurrent story arcs that need some shortening and simplification. We have a lot of great stuff early on and as we progress is where I plan on doing the condensing. I think there is plenty of material in the first 4 books to each warrant their own season before we start condensing and combining.
Tentatively this is how I see myself arranging the materials now that I'm about halfway through.
Season 1 - Eye of the World
Season 2 - The Great Hunt
Season 3 - The Dragon Reborn
Season 4 - The Shadow Rising
Season 5 - Fires of Heaven & Lord of Chaos
Season 6 - Crown of Swords + Path of Daggers + Winters Heart + Crossroads of Twilight
Season 7 - Knife of Dreams & The Gathering Storm
Season 8 - Towers of Midnight & A Memory of Light
Potentially Season 6 might get split depending on how much of that run I think should be included, but the slog is all concurrent story arcs that need some shortening and simplification. We have a lot of great stuff early on and as we progress is where I plan on doing the condensing. I think there is plenty of material in the first 4 books to each warrant their own season before we start condensing and combining.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Character Narrative Disappearances
As I start to look at assembling my season 3 outline, and reading into LoC, it has become apparent to me that one of the biggest hurdles that the show will need to reconcile with is the disappearance of certain POV narratives for long stretches of time. This isn't a noticeable trait of the first two books/my seasons, however starting with the material in TDR, we have a major shift (which is welcome), but leads to larger gaps later. Rand functionally is out of the picture for nearly 3/4 of the book. He is around at the start, the end, and we have a couple harrowing moments with him in between. The other major shift is Perrin adopting the mantle of the main narrative along with Nynaeve, Egwene, & Elayne for most of the book. Mat also has a much diminished role.
This is not crippling to a show for a couple reasons.
1) Even with a more limited presence all our primary protagonists are present.
2) Allows for necessary development of other characters while Rand is not doing too much of note.
3) You could add fluff if you needed to in a TV production to add some action or additional appearances.
I do think there is a point where it will become a more noticeable issue. FoH has 0 sequences with Perrin in it outside of a T'A'R appearance with Egwene (and only in the town not with him beyond the wolf hints). So for a TV show to not cast a primary protagonist for an entire season feels like a daunting topic. When we get to books 8-10 I think my goal will be to prompt some massive reorganizing across books to make a smoother narrative. The problem is even more exacerbated in those sections. Once you hit the end game of 11-14 the narrative tightens down again and it'll be easier to streamline the show much like the earlier parts I've proposed. The later books feel more like the first 4-6 and I think that will be reflected in how much of everyone you get in each episode, but that's still a ways away!
This is not crippling to a show for a couple reasons.
1) Even with a more limited presence all our primary protagonists are present.
2) Allows for necessary development of other characters while Rand is not doing too much of note.
3) You could add fluff if you needed to in a TV production to add some action or additional appearances.
I do think there is a point where it will become a more noticeable issue. FoH has 0 sequences with Perrin in it outside of a T'A'R appearance with Egwene (and only in the town not with him beyond the wolf hints). So for a TV show to not cast a primary protagonist for an entire season feels like a daunting topic. When we get to books 8-10 I think my goal will be to prompt some massive reorganizing across books to make a smoother narrative. The problem is even more exacerbated in those sections. Once you hit the end game of 11-14 the narrative tightens down again and it'll be easier to streamline the show much like the earlier parts I've proposed. The later books feel more like the first 4-6 and I think that will be reflected in how much of everyone you get in each episode, but that's still a ways away!
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Season Two of the Wheel of Time : The Great Hunt
So The Great Hunt is a far more emblematic novel of the series than The Eye of the World is for me. The objective appears a little smaller in scale (at the outset), the scale is actually larger (people locations, threads at the same time), and the stakes are even higher. The first book/season has to establish a lot of world items quickly, and since Jordan wasn't sure how many books he could write, I think it moves at a break neck pace in terms of getting to places and accomplishing goals in case he never got the 14 books (originally signed to six when he thought of three) worth of space. It always felt to me, that knowing it was successful and he would get enough space to fill out his story, the second book feels a little more complex and opens way more doors than season one could have. As it should be, even in a TV series there needs to be escalation. As such the chapter density of each episode is going to vary a lot more than it did in season one where I managed to arrange it so that no episode covered more than maybe 7 chapters and the smallest covers 5. This season we need to pack a lot in early on so that we have space to do justice to the visual sequences and action set pieces at the end of the story. The first half will be a lot more dense as the climax of the second half of this season is a lot of action that fits into the last 1/3rd of the book. There is also more passage of time this season which will need to be conveyed. This is also the first point where I believe you would need some padding to flesh out the TV story where the book did not. This will be necessary to show some of the time passage as well as perhaps add a little of tower life that is kinda skimmed over, relationships move fast in the WoT, so we can add a little extra life to relationships like Egwene/Elayne so that their decisions to act together feel a little more natural than in the book with the amount of page time they are given.
Once again, you will see [1/2] or [2/2] next to a chapter in my listing, that means I have broken apart the narrative of the chapter for how I would want to present the material inside each episode. It does not mean a neat 50/50 split of the material. Chapters connected with a , are concurrent. Chapters connected with a / are POV or narrative shifts.
Episode 9 - Leavetakings
Chapters - 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9[1/2]
The winds blow across the land to Shienar where we can see the long winter has finally broken and spring has come to the continent. This first episode has a lot to cover, but it's also setting up the entirety of the plot for the rest of the season which we could not do in the 1st season. More is established, we will introduce some important new characters, and we should finish with a great deal of urgency. There are two sequences in here with the Whitecloaks and Bayle Domon that will hint at the trouble on Toman Head which I think need to be included, but can be short. They should come prior to Fain's breakout so that we have been given some hint of the importance Falme/Toman Head will carry this season. That way when he breaks out and Rand finds his message we can know some of this is connected. The biggest bit of this episode I think would really be casting, there are major players introduced here that have to be around for the haul in terms of the season and the larger story; Siuan, Leanne, Verin, Liandrin, Hurin. We can see that the cast is going to expand a lot as we move forward in this episode. This episode I would end with attempt on Rand/Siuan's life for a small cliffhanger.
Episode 10 - The Great Hunt
Chapters - 9[2/2],10,11 / 12 / 14 / 13,15,16,17 / 18
We can open with the resolution of everyone leaving Fal Dara, the women to the Tower and our men on Fain's trail following the quick mystery of who the arrow was for (Domon's sequence was used earlier from Ch 9 in Ep 1). Otherwise I think this episode is straight forward. We get to do the Portal Stone adventure, a little of the ladies trip down river with the Amyrlin, and most importantly Selene (aka Lanfear) will be brought into the story. I think the portal stone adventure needs to be one flowing chunk as I've reworked this a few times. We need to have the bridge sequence before Rand & Crew wake up that we see they've disappeared. I like that a little better as a flow than realizing they've been separated. I think the scene flow will work better picking that story point up in the real world before going to the alternate one. I want to finish this episode with the arrival at the White Tower. I thought about breaking that sequence up, but really it just needs the lesson to be a very quick component. We want to finish looking right at the White Tower bright and ominous as they are lead to it by Sheriam.
Episode 11 - Friends and Enemies
Chapters - 23 / 19,20,20[1/2] / 22 / 24 / 21[2/2],25,26
The opening of this chapter should be a continuation of where we left the last one, in the White Tower. We need to be awoken as Nynaeve is and then we should have a good length sequence of her testing (this will be at least 1/3rd of the episode imo). Her testing is tenuous and should set the tone of wary distrust this episode. Rand and Co recapture the Horn & Dagger, but still haven't heard from Ingtar or Mat/Perrin so they get on the run. Before we leave them, we should see Selene's discontent and the end of the night at the Nine Rings, but will leave the morning for later. There needs to be a mounting sense of danger, so we get Moraine's encounter with the retired sisters Aes Sedai and the attack that implies the Black Ajah's involvement which may be our first notice of them in the show. We will then get the arrival in Cairhien and our reunion with Thom. This will setup the urgency in needing to leave after the next episode. We should finish with the knowledge Thom is going to be playing Daes Dae'Mar whether he wants to or not at the parties upcoming, hinting at the danger that surrounds Rand.
Episode 12 - Daes Dae'Mar
Chapters - 28 / 27,30 / 29 / 21,32,33 / 34
Having not visited with the Shienarians it will be important to show they are catching up with Rand & Co to setup the episode. We should then get the excursion into the Illuminators compound and the Trolloc ambush, which should then be followed by their decision to wait it out for Ingtar. This will lead to the invitation burning and the press of the horn/dagger being stolen again as Ingtar/Mat/Perrin arrive. We now get some interlude on Falme w/the Seanchan (namely we should see the Whitecloak arrival quickly, and then visit our friend Bayle Domon again so we can be introduced to Egeanin who will be important later on). We need this setup because its going to be the second half goal of the season. We should then get the Party that Goes Wrong, along with their resolve to visit the stedding to ask for help with finding a Portal Stone. I would reverse the order of the narratives between Fain & Tom so that we discover Fain's arrival at Falme, and we close with Cairhien burning from Thom's perspective.
Episode 13 - Trust
Chapters - 35,36 / 38,39 / 37 / 40[1/2]
The setup with the stedding and the elders is first up. Their mission was the most pressing one coming out of the last episode. This first sequence will carry up to the elders agreeing to show them where the portal stone is. This is where I think we get to flesh out a little bit because we need some tower life before their exit. Liandrin's trip into the Ways is a major trust moment that serves to reinforce the worst impressions a lot of our characters have of Aes Sedai. After they enter the ways, we should get the trippy Portal Stone alternative lives viewing, however I would include a little of our other protagonists as well. In the book we only see Rand's future visions, but the show will allow for a little room to visit Mat/Perrin too I would think. What you put in there is up for debate, but there are plenty of branch points in the story where a different decision would have doomed them all to point towards (or invent). Their arrival should be shown to have put them months past their intent, which will serve to contrast and establish how much time Egwene and their crew will have been on Toman Head as well. We will close with their exit from the Ways and the ambush by the Seanchan. I want to split this narrative to focus on Egwene here, Elayne & Nynaeve's escape will be saved for the opening of the next episode. We should close on her screams as she recognizes what the adam is doing along with the pain put on her by the Sul'dam.
Episode 14 - Falme
Chapters - 40[1/2],42[1/2] / 41 / 42[2/2] / 44 / 43, 45[1/2]
I want to open with the other component of the ambush which is Nynaeve and Elayne's escape establishing them as free to cause trouble. This is also a sequence where I think we are going to expand on what the book provides and show more of Egwene's time being "trained" by the Sul'dam leading into the current time which is close to Rand & Co's arrival. This will provide some chronological context to her time in captivity, and will show some of what she has learned, but also how unsympathetic the Seanchan are in their treatment of female channelers. We need good reason to dislike them beyond their invader status. We will jump to Rand & Co trying to figure out where exactly to look with the growing pull from our trio to Falme. That part can be quick to setup the dream sequence that teases the finale battle. We will return to Nynaeve and Elayne's efforts, including mention of Bayle. We can leave them having found Egwene's location and their need to plan. We will jump back to Rand & Co searching for Fain's trail & their discovery by the Whitecloaks that will instigate that confrontation. We will leave them putting the party together to head into Falme. We then need to see that Nynaeve's plan with Elayne and Rand & Co's arrival are occurring at the same time that morning, we should leave the ladies as they prepare to enter and we will finish with our group being confronted by Lord Turok in his display room. I want to leave this as a bit of a cliffhanger, our ladies are nearby about to get into trouble and our trio are in trouble too having found what they were looking for but now being seemingly trapped.
Episode 15 - The Grave is No Bar to My Call
Chapters - 46[1/2] / 45[2/2], 46[2/2], 47[1/2]
This episode is going to get a lot of additional action material compared to what we get in the book which is only a vignette of the chaos that begins in Falme. I want to open with the concurrent scene of Nynaeve and Elayne sneaking in while recognizing next door there is some sort of commotion, but it's time to rescue Egwene and start the fight in the streets which bleeds across the whole town as they work to escape. We then need to return to the confrontation in Turok's residence. This is where a lot more action can be shown than the single combat between Rand/Turok we get in the book. That should be a central focus of this sequence, but let's also get Ingtar/Mat/Perrin fighting as well. When they do manage to finish the fight and make it into the alley to recover a moment we should cut to Bayle trying to stay as long as he can, and Bornhald preparing to engage the Seanchan at Falme. This will also include him sending Byar away. We should then cut back to the alley with Ingtar's confession and sacrifice as our trio move to escape Falme, but find themselves caught between the Whitecloaks and Seanchan armies which brings us to the title of the episode as Matt makes his decision to blow the Horn of Valere and we end with it echoing across the plain as the fog rises.
Episode 16 - the dragon reborn
Chapters - 47[2/2],48,49
Time for our first huge battle sequence. There probably would have been a small glimpse of that at the end of S1 in Tarwin's Gap, but that's a real side tour from the main action unlike this one. We can have some large combat sequences, along with the arrival of the heroes of the pattern, coupled with the battle in the sky. We should see the back and forth between the armies as parallel to Rand's fight with (Ishamel) Ba'alzamon. We should get glimpses of our other heroes, the ladies, and the heroes of the pattern battling as well to add to the visuals and the run time. Once it is finished we need to make real emphasis on his wound, and of the second heron mark brand on his other palm. We get the Lanfear reveal, and Byar's ride off vowing revenge before wrapping up with Rand being filled in on the events during his recovery and finishing with him declaring himself the Dragon Reborn as the Shienarians vow their loyalty to him. I would close the season with a shot of the Dragon Banner rippling in the wind.
Once again, you will see [1/2] or [2/2] next to a chapter in my listing, that means I have broken apart the narrative of the chapter for how I would want to present the material inside each episode. It does not mean a neat 50/50 split of the material. Chapters connected with a , are concurrent. Chapters connected with a / are POV or narrative shifts.
Episode 9 - Leavetakings
Chapters - 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9[1/2]
The winds blow across the land to Shienar where we can see the long winter has finally broken and spring has come to the continent. This first episode has a lot to cover, but it's also setting up the entirety of the plot for the rest of the season which we could not do in the 1st season. More is established, we will introduce some important new characters, and we should finish with a great deal of urgency. There are two sequences in here with the Whitecloaks and Bayle Domon that will hint at the trouble on Toman Head which I think need to be included, but can be short. They should come prior to Fain's breakout so that we have been given some hint of the importance Falme/Toman Head will carry this season. That way when he breaks out and Rand finds his message we can know some of this is connected. The biggest bit of this episode I think would really be casting, there are major players introduced here that have to be around for the haul in terms of the season and the larger story; Siuan, Leanne, Verin, Liandrin, Hurin. We can see that the cast is going to expand a lot as we move forward in this episode. This episode I would end with attempt on Rand/Siuan's life for a small cliffhanger.
Episode 10 - The Great Hunt
Chapters - 9[2/2],10,11 / 12 / 14 / 13,15,16,17 / 18
We can open with the resolution of everyone leaving Fal Dara, the women to the Tower and our men on Fain's trail following the quick mystery of who the arrow was for (Domon's sequence was used earlier from Ch 9 in Ep 1). Otherwise I think this episode is straight forward. We get to do the Portal Stone adventure, a little of the ladies trip down river with the Amyrlin, and most importantly Selene (aka Lanfear) will be brought into the story. I think the portal stone adventure needs to be one flowing chunk as I've reworked this a few times. We need to have the bridge sequence before Rand & Crew wake up that we see they've disappeared. I like that a little better as a flow than realizing they've been separated. I think the scene flow will work better picking that story point up in the real world before going to the alternate one. I want to finish this episode with the arrival at the White Tower. I thought about breaking that sequence up, but really it just needs the lesson to be a very quick component. We want to finish looking right at the White Tower bright and ominous as they are lead to it by Sheriam.
Episode 11 - Friends and Enemies
Chapters - 23 / 19,20,20[1/2] / 22 / 24 / 21[2/2],25,26
The opening of this chapter should be a continuation of where we left the last one, in the White Tower. We need to be awoken as Nynaeve is and then we should have a good length sequence of her testing (this will be at least 1/3rd of the episode imo). Her testing is tenuous and should set the tone of wary distrust this episode. Rand and Co recapture the Horn & Dagger, but still haven't heard from Ingtar or Mat/Perrin so they get on the run. Before we leave them, we should see Selene's discontent and the end of the night at the Nine Rings, but will leave the morning for later. There needs to be a mounting sense of danger, so we get Moraine's encounter with the retired sisters Aes Sedai and the attack that implies the Black Ajah's involvement which may be our first notice of them in the show. We will then get the arrival in Cairhien and our reunion with Thom. This will setup the urgency in needing to leave after the next episode. We should finish with the knowledge Thom is going to be playing Daes Dae'Mar whether he wants to or not at the parties upcoming, hinting at the danger that surrounds Rand.
Episode 12 - Daes Dae'Mar
Chapters - 28 / 27,30 / 29 / 21,32,33 / 34
Having not visited with the Shienarians it will be important to show they are catching up with Rand & Co to setup the episode. We should then get the excursion into the Illuminators compound and the Trolloc ambush, which should then be followed by their decision to wait it out for Ingtar. This will lead to the invitation burning and the press of the horn/dagger being stolen again as Ingtar/Mat/Perrin arrive. We now get some interlude on Falme w/the Seanchan (namely we should see the Whitecloak arrival quickly, and then visit our friend Bayle Domon again so we can be introduced to Egeanin who will be important later on). We need this setup because its going to be the second half goal of the season. We should then get the Party that Goes Wrong, along with their resolve to visit the stedding to ask for help with finding a Portal Stone. I would reverse the order of the narratives between Fain & Tom so that we discover Fain's arrival at Falme, and we close with Cairhien burning from Thom's perspective.
Episode 13 - Trust
Chapters - 35,36 / 38,39 / 37 / 40[1/2]
The setup with the stedding and the elders is first up. Their mission was the most pressing one coming out of the last episode. This first sequence will carry up to the elders agreeing to show them where the portal stone is. This is where I think we get to flesh out a little bit because we need some tower life before their exit. Liandrin's trip into the Ways is a major trust moment that serves to reinforce the worst impressions a lot of our characters have of Aes Sedai. After they enter the ways, we should get the trippy Portal Stone alternative lives viewing, however I would include a little of our other protagonists as well. In the book we only see Rand's future visions, but the show will allow for a little room to visit Mat/Perrin too I would think. What you put in there is up for debate, but there are plenty of branch points in the story where a different decision would have doomed them all to point towards (or invent). Their arrival should be shown to have put them months past their intent, which will serve to contrast and establish how much time Egwene and their crew will have been on Toman Head as well. We will close with their exit from the Ways and the ambush by the Seanchan. I want to split this narrative to focus on Egwene here, Elayne & Nynaeve's escape will be saved for the opening of the next episode. We should close on her screams as she recognizes what the adam is doing along with the pain put on her by the Sul'dam.
Episode 14 - Falme
Chapters - 40[1/2],42[1/2] / 41 / 42[2/2] / 44 / 43, 45[1/2]
I want to open with the other component of the ambush which is Nynaeve and Elayne's escape establishing them as free to cause trouble. This is also a sequence where I think we are going to expand on what the book provides and show more of Egwene's time being "trained" by the Sul'dam leading into the current time which is close to Rand & Co's arrival. This will provide some chronological context to her time in captivity, and will show some of what she has learned, but also how unsympathetic the Seanchan are in their treatment of female channelers. We need good reason to dislike them beyond their invader status. We will jump to Rand & Co trying to figure out where exactly to look with the growing pull from our trio to Falme. That part can be quick to setup the dream sequence that teases the finale battle. We will return to Nynaeve and Elayne's efforts, including mention of Bayle. We can leave them having found Egwene's location and their need to plan. We will jump back to Rand & Co searching for Fain's trail & their discovery by the Whitecloaks that will instigate that confrontation. We will leave them putting the party together to head into Falme. We then need to see that Nynaeve's plan with Elayne and Rand & Co's arrival are occurring at the same time that morning, we should leave the ladies as they prepare to enter and we will finish with our group being confronted by Lord Turok in his display room. I want to leave this as a bit of a cliffhanger, our ladies are nearby about to get into trouble and our trio are in trouble too having found what they were looking for but now being seemingly trapped.
Episode 15 - The Grave is No Bar to My Call
Chapters - 46[1/2] / 45[2/2], 46[2/2], 47[1/2]
This episode is going to get a lot of additional action material compared to what we get in the book which is only a vignette of the chaos that begins in Falme. I want to open with the concurrent scene of Nynaeve and Elayne sneaking in while recognizing next door there is some sort of commotion, but it's time to rescue Egwene and start the fight in the streets which bleeds across the whole town as they work to escape. We then need to return to the confrontation in Turok's residence. This is where a lot more action can be shown than the single combat between Rand/Turok we get in the book. That should be a central focus of this sequence, but let's also get Ingtar/Mat/Perrin fighting as well. When they do manage to finish the fight and make it into the alley to recover a moment we should cut to Bayle trying to stay as long as he can, and Bornhald preparing to engage the Seanchan at Falme. This will also include him sending Byar away. We should then cut back to the alley with Ingtar's confession and sacrifice as our trio move to escape Falme, but find themselves caught between the Whitecloaks and Seanchan armies which brings us to the title of the episode as Matt makes his decision to blow the Horn of Valere and we end with it echoing across the plain as the fog rises.
Episode 16 - the dragon reborn
Chapters - 47[2/2],48,49
Time for our first huge battle sequence. There probably would have been a small glimpse of that at the end of S1 in Tarwin's Gap, but that's a real side tour from the main action unlike this one. We can have some large combat sequences, along with the arrival of the heroes of the pattern, coupled with the battle in the sky. We should see the back and forth between the armies as parallel to Rand's fight with (Ishamel) Ba'alzamon. We should get glimpses of our other heroes, the ladies, and the heroes of the pattern battling as well to add to the visuals and the run time. Once it is finished we need to make real emphasis on his wound, and of the second heron mark brand on his other palm. We get the Lanfear reveal, and Byar's ride off vowing revenge before wrapping up with Rand being filled in on the events during his recovery and finishing with him declaring himself the Dragon Reborn as the Shienarians vow their loyalty to him. I would close the season with a shot of the Dragon Banner rippling in the wind.
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Season One of The Wheel of Time : The Eye of the World
A whole season of TV created out of the first book of the Wheel of Time. I expect the TV series will just be titled "The Wheel of Time". Game of Thrones really should be A Song of Ice and Fire, but hey whatever. I don't expect each season to get the subtitle of each book, but I won't be surprised to see the book titles appear as episode titles. I am aware that there are already "leaked" script titles for the first 4-6 episodes of the series which is slated to start production this fall. As such everything I'm doing is my own musings about how I would assemble the material. I will readily admit I am not a person who works in TV or in the creative arts at all really, so maybe some of this will be clunky, but I wanted to put my own stamp on it.
You will see [1/2] or [2/2] next to a chapter in my listing, that only means I have broken apart the narrative of the chapter for how I would want to present the material inside each episode. It does not mean a neat 50/50 split of the material. Chapters connected with a , are concurrent. Chapters connected with a / are POV or narrative shifts.
Episode 1 - Winternight
Chapters - 1,2,3,4,5,6
This episode is going to need to establish a lot of characters, and provide the impression that something is about to happen with so many extraordinary circumstances happening around Emonds Field. I think the most memorable scene they need to nail is the first appearance of the Myrdraal on the road with Rand/Tam. I always remember that reading it, and I think it will really be a striking moment to signal the adventure is about to begin. The climax of the episode needs to be the assault on the farm and it should end with Rand dragging Tam rambling into the night with him unsure of the revelation that his father found him on Dragonmount.
Episode 2 - Roads to Bigger Places than You've Seen (I don't love this title, but the more obvious ones are kinda boring)
Chapters - 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14
This should be an episode where we can fit in some exposition, we need to make sure that we get a glimpse of the Draghkar, and should encompass the hurried rush at Taren Ferry and their arrival in relative safety in Baerlon, however we close the episode with Rand's dream of Ba'alzamon and the dead rat as a warning. I would consider adding a scene of Nynaeve leaving Emonds Field, but I think her surprise arrival is more fitting.
Episode 3 - Shadar Logoth
Chapters - 15,16,17,18,19,20
We get to start off in Baerlon before rapidly leaving (have to reintroduce Nynaeve), and the chase to Shadar Logoth. This gives us a few chances to have some action before the lull in Logoth prior to the frantic escape. My big adjustment to this chapter is really in the visual arrangement of their escape (we likely need to see a bit more of Nynaeve escaping to the river), and I would break up Rand/Mat/Thom's escape to mirror a bit of Perrin/Egwene's. Both escape the city, then we get to see Rand/Mat/Thom board the Spray before the Trollocs catch them, but conclude the episode with Perrin leaping into the river and washing up on shore exhausted. I want this episode to finish feeling like everyone is really in a tough spot.
Episode 4 - Legends of Ages Past
Chapters - 22 / 21 / 24 / 23,25,27,29,30[1/2] / 26
This will be the first episode with some branching and jumping between narratives. Until then we were one tightly knit band. Start with Perrin finding Egwene, stop in on Nynaeve tracking Moraine & Lan, we will get a quick check in on the Spray, I considered skipping this and I think it can be far shorter than we get in the book, but Domon Bayle is a character we will see more of so I didn't want cut his time this early. Then we should spend most of the rest of the episode with Perrin & Egwene, discovering the wolfdream, Elyas, the Tinkers (casting Aram will be important given his return and involvement later) and we will close with them being assaulted by the Whitecloaks under the remains of Artur's statue. The episode I would then close by having Rand/Mat/Thom disembark at Whitebridge and the encounter with the Myrdraal. Let's finish as the chapter does with Rand/Mat running as Thom instructed.
Episode 5 - Roads to Camelyn
Chapters - 30[2/2] / 31,32 / 37[1/2] / 33,34[1/2] / 37[2/2],38 / 34[2/2]
We open with the result of Perrin/Egwene's capture by the Whitecloaks. We can then rejoin Rand and Mat's harrowing time on the road. The timing of this is a bit fuzzy to me, but I want to try and arrange it so that we can see Rand/Mat are ahead of our other group by a little. So following their escape we will return to Moraine/Lan/Nynaeve finding the Whitecloak camp and deciding to put together a plan. We can then finish Rand & Mat's time on the road before being picked up (including Rand's dream and growing concern for Mat). We will then see the execution of their plan to rescue Perrin and Egwene and their declaration they have a few days to go to Camelyn, which is where we can close the episode with Rand and Mat arriving at Camelyn, seeing the great city on the horizon for the first time.
Episode 6 - Ta'Veren
Chapters - 35,36,39,40,41,42,43,44[1/2]
This will cover all of our time in Camelyn, Rand's Royal Palace adventure and meeting with Morgase/Eladia/Elayne/Gawyn/Galad (big time characters being introduced here although we won't get much time with them). That is probably the first 1/3rd of the episode, then we need to have the reunion, healing of Mat, introduction of Loial, and then the realization that they need to reach the Borderlands as fast as possible. I would close this episode with the waygate closing on our party as they enter the Ways.
Episode 7 - The Eye of the World
Chapters - 44[2/2],45,46,47,48,49
The escape from the ways, arrival at Fal Dara, the reappearance and some revelations from Fain followed by the trip to the Blight. This will provide us a chance to have some more development between Nynaeve and Lan as well as showing us a drastically different location from where the majority of this season has taken place. We should close with their being greeted by the Green Man at the Eye of the World, but we will have to save the surprises inside for the next episode.
Episode 8 - The Wheel Turns (The Dragon Rides Again)
Chapters - Prologue of EoTW, 50,51,52,53, Prologue to TGH
By necessity this episode is going to have some really exciting action, big reveals, and we finally should go back to meet our primary nemesis for the first 3 books Ishmael and his taunting of Lews Therin. I think we need to open with how badly things have gone for LTT so we can set the stage for Rand coming into his own as warning for what he faces. This episode the way I would construct it would be the climactic fight, but it also needs to establish that this fight is far from over. The surprise of the Horn of Valere rightfully comes out of left field, but the Dragon Banner will be a strong signal for the close prior to the credits where Moraine declares that the Dragon is Reborn. I would do a post credits sequence of the prologue to TGH. Already I want a warning leading into the second season that things will only be more dangerous for our heroes as their story progresses. I think you could simply end this sequence with the Ba'alzamon command to recognize the three young men from the Two Rivers, but it would be better to carry it through to the reveal of our particular Darkfriend being one of the Children of Light's Questioners. We get the vibe they aren't totally wholesome earlier with Perrin and that should only add to it as we close on season one.
A Few Unsorted Thoughts
I would love to see continuity of the finale titling for a little bit anyway. Perhaps after the first 4 we can bring this back as it makes sense, but I think there would be value in the subtle escalation of titling.
S1 Finale - The Wheel Turns (the dragon rides again)
S2 Finale - the dragon reborn
S3 Finale - The Dragon Reborn
S4 Finale - Car'a'Carn
So far I haven't wanted to cut a chapter until I got to book 6. Most everything else can be condensed or arranged slightly differently compared to the book and it's all more or less worthwhile. I think that some of the side threads are the ones that will need trimming which start happening in LoC. Although I admit I am split on how to handle chapter 50 of TGH, which is really just a short paragraph about how the story of Falme spreads, and could easily be excised entirely given it will contextually be a thing in TGH season.
I think the first 4-5 books are well structured to be able to translate them to a visual medium. There is a lot of ground to cover, but I am finding 10 episodes might be the upper end of the first half of the series. It'll get far more complicated to breakdown and line up once we hit books 7+. As I'm going I feel like 8 episodes a season might really be the measure of most of the first few books.
Every season must start with the wind, and perhaps a text overlay about the Wheel of Time Turns, Ages Come and Go, It was not the beginning, but it was a beginning.
S1 Finale - The Wheel Turns (the dragon rides again)
S2 Finale - the dragon reborn
S3 Finale - The Dragon Reborn
S4 Finale - Car'a'Carn
So far I haven't wanted to cut a chapter until I got to book 6. Most everything else can be condensed or arranged slightly differently compared to the book and it's all more or less worthwhile. I think that some of the side threads are the ones that will need trimming which start happening in LoC. Although I admit I am split on how to handle chapter 50 of TGH, which is really just a short paragraph about how the story of Falme spreads, and could easily be excised entirely given it will contextually be a thing in TGH season.
I think the first 4-5 books are well structured to be able to translate them to a visual medium. There is a lot of ground to cover, but I am finding 10 episodes might be the upper end of the first half of the series. It'll get far more complicated to breakdown and line up once we hit books 7+. As I'm going I feel like 8 episodes a season might really be the measure of most of the first few books.
Every season must start with the wind, and perhaps a text overlay about the Wheel of Time Turns, Ages Come and Go, It was not the beginning, but it was a beginning.
Friday, March 1, 2019
The World and It's People
So the first bit of detail that I want to tackle is establishing my thoughts on what each territory of the world I have related back to ours. Each territory has it's own flavor (and I will likely be completely wrong about how it's handled), which I have often felt reflected to some degree familiar cultures in our world. There is a strong hint/implication that the world we read about it is our own. The Wheel moves and ages come and go, ours is either sometime prior to the Age of Legends or perhaps somewhere in the future past the events we see. I don't have a strong opinion on that part, but I do think that it means you'll end up seeing some diverse casting choices and that the world will feel very dense compared to ours. The actual land mass space is certainly no larger (in my mind) than the space of Europe or perhaps the mainland US at the largest. The Waste is a large space, Seanchan is probably a decently sized area, but frankly I never got the impression that we really interact with more than a fraction of what would be a full world map.
Let's start with what I think are some of the easier ones to pin down. I do want to note that because of the Breaking of the World I think that even with strong ethnic trends in each area, you'll still find people of all colors and creeds across the world to some degree. Just because a place is mostly one ethnicity doesn't mean there won't be any folks of a different ethnicity as a part of their society. I never got the impression any one place was completely homogeneous outside of really the Aiel.
Andor and it's Western Reaches (The Two Rivers/Manetheren)
Frankly I feel like the allusion to England is relatively strong here. A female monarch, traditional bright castles, spires, rolling hills and forests along with a population that is mostly Caucasian. Camelyn is I think a strong allegory for Camelot in terms of the visual reference point. This will probably be one of the more familiar visual locations to viewers. I think you'll see a relatively diverse population as our crew begin their journey. Mostly white folks, but certainly some representation from latino/black populations too.
Cairhien
During my reread there are a few things that struck me about Cairhien; they are opulent in their spaces, love a huge party, and are not as strong as they present themselves to be. Historically they remind me of the French Monarchy which I think also fits with their tentative alignment with Andor. This is more visual reference for their architecture than for casting. I also think Daes Dae Mar fits very well with the feel of the French court than other monarchies. I would think much like Andor you'll see a variety of casting for the populace, but I feel like the central area of the world is very traditional European in the casting and dress.
Murandy/Altara/Amadacia
Ultimately we don't spend a ton of time in these places, but they are more of that mostly white European blend you get from Andor/Cairhien.
The Borderlands - Saldea, Kandor, Arafel, Shienar
These are a little tricky, but I have often pictured the Borderlands as a blend of central and eastern Asia. Sheinar I often picture as similar in look to Mongolians, while Saldea often struck me as more Korean/perhaps East Russian Asian. The high cheek bones, striking eyes, and dark hair all remind me of that and on my reread, Faile just made me think of a very striking Korean woman in her presence, respect for tradition, and description. So I have a picture of the Borderlands in my head as a blend of that eastern pacific coast/central Asian peoples. Could also have some of south/central asia as an alternative casting group (Pakistani/Indian).
Tear
Tear visually I expect to be very stark and heavy (the Stone makes me think of an imposing peak in a city that feels unnatural), the description of their dress and their relationship with Illian reminds me of the Turkish empire. Bright colors, with volume to some of the clothing, along with their secular government (avoidance of religious systems and lack of a true monarch) also remind me of a blend of Turkish history. I also chose Turkey because of my choice of inspiration for Illian.
Illian
As the rival and counterpart to Tear, Illian makes me think of a Greco-Roman blend for their look and casting. Both are similarly Mediterranean, but despite those similarities they don't get along. Their governance is not democratic, but it is done with a council not a full monarchy. Doesn't hurt that it's also located at the tip of a peninsula much like Italy and Greece. Admittedly as I write this I am only starting book 6 and we haven't really spent time with Illian yet so my opinion may change as I'm just pulling this out of memory.
Ebou Dar
The city is described as vibrant, but dangerous and a little on the dirty side. Coupled with the food as described, and it reminds me out southeast Asia. Thai/Cambodian/Vietnamese would be my angle for how I would want to cast this area. It obviously gets a fair amount of the European people in it from their neighbors to the north.
Tarabon/Arad Doman
Never been quite sure how to handle this group, we really only spend time in this part of the map during the 2nd book, and the main take away is that the people here were quickly and easily subjugated by the Seanchan with their Return although it was not well received. There is a lot of talk about how the Domani women are considered very exotic and appealing. Given their darker skin I would likely angle this towards a Latin/South American casting. The situation and the descriptions of the people make me think of european conquest in south central america given the spaces are not truly united and tend to be more regionally community based.
The Sea Folk
Given they spend their entire lives on the water, I have always pictured them to be a group of peoples who resemble pacific islanders. Dark skin, fiercely tied to their culture, bright colors, tattoos etc. You could also consider casting Philippians, Malaysian, or Indonesian. Consummate masters of the ocean, their ships also remind me of the thinner faster sailing ships from those countries you can still see on the water today.
Seanchan
The visual reference has to be China/Japan. Their armor sounds nearly like samurai armor, and their ships are described to me as Chinese square rigs. There would be more diversity to their general population, but they always reminded me of a blend of that stereotypical chinese/japanese look and feel in the elite/royal level characters we interact with over the course of the series. They can blend in because there would be plenty of cross over since they are descendants of our home territory.
Aiel
This is probably the toughest group to cast. Culturally they remind me of Native Americans, but visually they have a very unique look. Red/Gold hair and blue/green/grey eyes. Makes me think of the acutal Caucuses and western central asia a little. I think the Aiel are going to need some help from the costume or SFX department to nail their contrasting dark skin/lighter hair and eyes appearance.
Shara
We never really see this place, but I would think its a very african/south asia Indian in casting and style. Not a big concern unless the TV show decides to add material we never really got in the books.
Our main map space ends up I think very diverse, with representation from all across the world in it. I think there will be inspiration taken from historical cultures, but they'll need to have the flair given to them that the books afforded. Familiar, but not the same.
Let's start with what I think are some of the easier ones to pin down. I do want to note that because of the Breaking of the World I think that even with strong ethnic trends in each area, you'll still find people of all colors and creeds across the world to some degree. Just because a place is mostly one ethnicity doesn't mean there won't be any folks of a different ethnicity as a part of their society. I never got the impression any one place was completely homogeneous outside of really the Aiel.
Andor and it's Western Reaches (The Two Rivers/Manetheren)
Frankly I feel like the allusion to England is relatively strong here. A female monarch, traditional bright castles, spires, rolling hills and forests along with a population that is mostly Caucasian. Camelyn is I think a strong allegory for Camelot in terms of the visual reference point. This will probably be one of the more familiar visual locations to viewers. I think you'll see a relatively diverse population as our crew begin their journey. Mostly white folks, but certainly some representation from latino/black populations too.
Cairhien
During my reread there are a few things that struck me about Cairhien; they are opulent in their spaces, love a huge party, and are not as strong as they present themselves to be. Historically they remind me of the French Monarchy which I think also fits with their tentative alignment with Andor. This is more visual reference for their architecture than for casting. I also think Daes Dae Mar fits very well with the feel of the French court than other monarchies. I would think much like Andor you'll see a variety of casting for the populace, but I feel like the central area of the world is very traditional European in the casting and dress.
Murandy/Altara/Amadacia
Ultimately we don't spend a ton of time in these places, but they are more of that mostly white European blend you get from Andor/Cairhien.
The Borderlands - Saldea, Kandor, Arafel, Shienar
These are a little tricky, but I have often pictured the Borderlands as a blend of central and eastern Asia. Sheinar I often picture as similar in look to Mongolians, while Saldea often struck me as more Korean/perhaps East Russian Asian. The high cheek bones, striking eyes, and dark hair all remind me of that and on my reread, Faile just made me think of a very striking Korean woman in her presence, respect for tradition, and description. So I have a picture of the Borderlands in my head as a blend of that eastern pacific coast/central Asian peoples. Could also have some of south/central asia as an alternative casting group (Pakistani/Indian).
Tear
Tear visually I expect to be very stark and heavy (the Stone makes me think of an imposing peak in a city that feels unnatural), the description of their dress and their relationship with Illian reminds me of the Turkish empire. Bright colors, with volume to some of the clothing, along with their secular government (avoidance of religious systems and lack of a true monarch) also remind me of a blend of Turkish history. I also chose Turkey because of my choice of inspiration for Illian.
Illian
As the rival and counterpart to Tear, Illian makes me think of a Greco-Roman blend for their look and casting. Both are similarly Mediterranean, but despite those similarities they don't get along. Their governance is not democratic, but it is done with a council not a full monarchy. Doesn't hurt that it's also located at the tip of a peninsula much like Italy and Greece. Admittedly as I write this I am only starting book 6 and we haven't really spent time with Illian yet so my opinion may change as I'm just pulling this out of memory.
Ebou Dar
The city is described as vibrant, but dangerous and a little on the dirty side. Coupled with the food as described, and it reminds me out southeast Asia. Thai/Cambodian/Vietnamese would be my angle for how I would want to cast this area. It obviously gets a fair amount of the European people in it from their neighbors to the north.
Tarabon/Arad Doman
Never been quite sure how to handle this group, we really only spend time in this part of the map during the 2nd book, and the main take away is that the people here were quickly and easily subjugated by the Seanchan with their Return although it was not well received. There is a lot of talk about how the Domani women are considered very exotic and appealing. Given their darker skin I would likely angle this towards a Latin/South American casting. The situation and the descriptions of the people make me think of european conquest in south central america given the spaces are not truly united and tend to be more regionally community based.
The Sea Folk
Given they spend their entire lives on the water, I have always pictured them to be a group of peoples who resemble pacific islanders. Dark skin, fiercely tied to their culture, bright colors, tattoos etc. You could also consider casting Philippians, Malaysian, or Indonesian. Consummate masters of the ocean, their ships also remind me of the thinner faster sailing ships from those countries you can still see on the water today.
Seanchan
The visual reference has to be China/Japan. Their armor sounds nearly like samurai armor, and their ships are described to me as Chinese square rigs. There would be more diversity to their general population, but they always reminded me of a blend of that stereotypical chinese/japanese look and feel in the elite/royal level characters we interact with over the course of the series. They can blend in because there would be plenty of cross over since they are descendants of our home territory.
Aiel
This is probably the toughest group to cast. Culturally they remind me of Native Americans, but visually they have a very unique look. Red/Gold hair and blue/green/grey eyes. Makes me think of the acutal Caucuses and western central asia a little. I think the Aiel are going to need some help from the costume or SFX department to nail their contrasting dark skin/lighter hair and eyes appearance.
Shara
We never really see this place, but I would think its a very african/south asia Indian in casting and style. Not a big concern unless the TV show decides to add material we never really got in the books.
Our main map space ends up I think very diverse, with representation from all across the world in it. I think there will be inspiration taken from historical cultures, but they'll need to have the flair given to them that the books afforded. Familiar, but not the same.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
General Musings and an Outline
So I've been reading the Wheel of Time since I was in the 7th grade, when I started there were the first 6 books published and the 7th was published as I began getting into it. I have loved the story, setting, and characters for a long time and have pined for it to be a TV series which is finally happening now. I once made a diorama of that first Myrddraal sighting for my 7th grade English reading assignment. Movies I felt would never have the space to tell the story adequately and with the rise in prestige TV (thanks Game of Thrones) it will be possible to see this epic fantasy story brought to life. I've started a reread to get myself back into it before this launches (the books are long and it'll be a while before we see real action on the show) and that's where the jump off for me on this project is.
I have spent a lot of time trying to organize for myself how that would work and that's what I plan on doing here with this outlet. I've bounced the idea around, but having restarted the series it seemed like the best time to try and tackle it. My goal will be to break down each of the books so that chapters can be organized into episodes. I have no set idea for how many each season would encompass, and I picture it sort of like Stranger Things, that each seasons run time will be dependent on how many I think it would take to tell each story. I do firmly believe that while it is 14 books and a prequel novel the TV series shouldn't be longer than 10 seasons and could be feasibly done in as few as 8. I think keeping it within 10 will be my goal, and given how prestige TV works I think that each season being in the range of 8-12 episodes a piece would be appropriate.
As an early outlook I think the most condensing of the story for TV will occur during books 8-10. That I suspect will be turned into 1 long season or perhaps 7-10 will be 2. The later books are dense, but far more focused and I think that some of the length that comes from how descriptive Jordan (and Sanderson) were will be more quickly related in a visual medium.
No surprise there will be spoilers, even as early as this first post.
When I think about this venture, I do see a few distinct challenges that the real producers and directors will need to address and over come.
1) Massive amounts of internal personal dialogue that informs actions, and helps us grasp who the characters are. There is a ton of exposition that occurs in each narrative characters head which will be difficult to do without long stretches of them talking to themselves. This is fine for a book, but will be a challenge for TV. For Rand I think his internal battle with Lews Therin is actually the easiest one to build into, but that's because his disconnected voice could be overlayed in such a way we know only Rand is hearing it (i expect it to start sort of as his voice then blend until it is solely LTT voice we hear over time helping to show that slip for Rand [are they his thoughts are aren't they?]). How they manage to bring that exposition into the show will be interesting, although I don't have a suggestion about it at this time.
2) Special Effects - Especially as it regards use of the One Power. Some of this is straight forward, particularly a lot of the combat uses for the one power. However, especially in relation to the female Aes Sedai, I think there will be a real challenge in how certain aspects are presented. How do you show the weaves? How will they present a battle like the one between Nynaeve and Moghedien we get at the end of TSR? That is entirely hidden skills that only women users can "see". Given how the books are structured with one narrative point of view, I'll be curious to see how they address that. The halo in particular that women users of the One Power can see and sense will be a telling visual cue to who the narrative lead is in any given scene. Monsters are straight forward, and visual settings won't be a struggle (although they will be pricey I expect), but I do think when it comes to the One Power how it's depicted, & hidden when necessary, will be interesting to see how its tackled.
3) Long term casting - not so much in regards to the core cast, but there are a lot of side characters who you will probably want to have around (now that doesn't mean recasting can't happen, but it would be nice if enough continuity was invested to not need it). I'm primarily thinking of familiar regional characters; Two Rivers townsfolk (Cenn Buie, the mayor etc), some of our innkeepers who get revisited, Seanchan officials etc, who can not appear for books at a time but we know they'll play a role we should have them around for. Maybe those folks get their stories trimmed or altered, but the world is tightly interconnected (or woven go go pattern puns) that given we have the space in a TV run to include most of the minutia it shouldn't be simply shaved for the sake of shaving them.
4) Transitions & End points for season narrative arcs. The big difference between the books and this TV show I suspect will be, given the ability to look ahead, I think you'll see some changes in set points for where each season starts and ends. I'll provide a few examples I'll elaborate on when I start breaking down the books into seasons/episodes. I think that you probably end Season 1 with the prologue to the Great Hunt, perhaps as an after credits sequence that has some length to it. We have the ability to pick a bit from the next sequences, and it'll be important to establish despite what Rand thinks, the battle is far from over and our three prime protagonists are only going to face more trouble as the story continues. Similarly I think there could be an argument made for ending season 5 with the battle at Cariheien and not finishing with the assault on Rahvin in Camelyn. I think it could serve the narrative better to start season 6 with the excitement of that sequence to allow for the finale to carry serious weight (Rand starts as showing his superiority, but is badly humbled at the end of the season). 7-10 I think this will be a way more interesting debate as those end up with a lot of concurrent story telling over those books timeline wise that will require a lot more organizational thought to how you mesh it all. The narrative smooths out to more like the first 1/3rd of the series toward the end as we start wrapping up the plot lines.
5) Ethnicity for Casting - unlike say Tolkien or even GRRM, Jordan's world has a great deal of cultural and visual diversity. I think it will be important to establish those frameworks early (even before some groups appear) so that consistency and continuity can be preserved. I have thoughts on that and it'll probably be one of the things I spend some time looking at before I get too deep into breaking out the seasons. I think this show should provide a great chance for a lot of actors of color to get prime positions in the show and reflect our world more so than the traditional fantasy setting.
My goal will be to do a large season over arch, then a dive into the relevant logic for why I grouped certain chapters together. I suspect I'll be way off the mark when it finally comes, but perhaps along the way I and any readers I gather can enjoy the exercise of trying to fit this much material into a new medium!
There are no beginnings or endings to the Wheel of Time, but this is a beginning...
I have spent a lot of time trying to organize for myself how that would work and that's what I plan on doing here with this outlet. I've bounced the idea around, but having restarted the series it seemed like the best time to try and tackle it. My goal will be to break down each of the books so that chapters can be organized into episodes. I have no set idea for how many each season would encompass, and I picture it sort of like Stranger Things, that each seasons run time will be dependent on how many I think it would take to tell each story. I do firmly believe that while it is 14 books and a prequel novel the TV series shouldn't be longer than 10 seasons and could be feasibly done in as few as 8. I think keeping it within 10 will be my goal, and given how prestige TV works I think that each season being in the range of 8-12 episodes a piece would be appropriate.
As an early outlook I think the most condensing of the story for TV will occur during books 8-10. That I suspect will be turned into 1 long season or perhaps 7-10 will be 2. The later books are dense, but far more focused and I think that some of the length that comes from how descriptive Jordan (and Sanderson) were will be more quickly related in a visual medium.
No surprise there will be spoilers, even as early as this first post.
When I think about this venture, I do see a few distinct challenges that the real producers and directors will need to address and over come.
1) Massive amounts of internal personal dialogue that informs actions, and helps us grasp who the characters are. There is a ton of exposition that occurs in each narrative characters head which will be difficult to do without long stretches of them talking to themselves. This is fine for a book, but will be a challenge for TV. For Rand I think his internal battle with Lews Therin is actually the easiest one to build into, but that's because his disconnected voice could be overlayed in such a way we know only Rand is hearing it (i expect it to start sort of as his voice then blend until it is solely LTT voice we hear over time helping to show that slip for Rand [are they his thoughts are aren't they?]). How they manage to bring that exposition into the show will be interesting, although I don't have a suggestion about it at this time.
2) Special Effects - Especially as it regards use of the One Power. Some of this is straight forward, particularly a lot of the combat uses for the one power. However, especially in relation to the female Aes Sedai, I think there will be a real challenge in how certain aspects are presented. How do you show the weaves? How will they present a battle like the one between Nynaeve and Moghedien we get at the end of TSR? That is entirely hidden skills that only women users can "see". Given how the books are structured with one narrative point of view, I'll be curious to see how they address that. The halo in particular that women users of the One Power can see and sense will be a telling visual cue to who the narrative lead is in any given scene. Monsters are straight forward, and visual settings won't be a struggle (although they will be pricey I expect), but I do think when it comes to the One Power how it's depicted, & hidden when necessary, will be interesting to see how its tackled.
3) Long term casting - not so much in regards to the core cast, but there are a lot of side characters who you will probably want to have around (now that doesn't mean recasting can't happen, but it would be nice if enough continuity was invested to not need it). I'm primarily thinking of familiar regional characters; Two Rivers townsfolk (Cenn Buie, the mayor etc), some of our innkeepers who get revisited, Seanchan officials etc, who can not appear for books at a time but we know they'll play a role we should have them around for. Maybe those folks get their stories trimmed or altered, but the world is tightly interconnected (or woven go go pattern puns) that given we have the space in a TV run to include most of the minutia it shouldn't be simply shaved for the sake of shaving them.
4) Transitions & End points for season narrative arcs. The big difference between the books and this TV show I suspect will be, given the ability to look ahead, I think you'll see some changes in set points for where each season starts and ends. I'll provide a few examples I'll elaborate on when I start breaking down the books into seasons/episodes. I think that you probably end Season 1 with the prologue to the Great Hunt, perhaps as an after credits sequence that has some length to it. We have the ability to pick a bit from the next sequences, and it'll be important to establish despite what Rand thinks, the battle is far from over and our three prime protagonists are only going to face more trouble as the story continues. Similarly I think there could be an argument made for ending season 5 with the battle at Cariheien and not finishing with the assault on Rahvin in Camelyn. I think it could serve the narrative better to start season 6 with the excitement of that sequence to allow for the finale to carry serious weight (Rand starts as showing his superiority, but is badly humbled at the end of the season). 7-10 I think this will be a way more interesting debate as those end up with a lot of concurrent story telling over those books timeline wise that will require a lot more organizational thought to how you mesh it all. The narrative smooths out to more like the first 1/3rd of the series toward the end as we start wrapping up the plot lines.
5) Ethnicity for Casting - unlike say Tolkien or even GRRM, Jordan's world has a great deal of cultural and visual diversity. I think it will be important to establish those frameworks early (even before some groups appear) so that consistency and continuity can be preserved. I have thoughts on that and it'll probably be one of the things I spend some time looking at before I get too deep into breaking out the seasons. I think this show should provide a great chance for a lot of actors of color to get prime positions in the show and reflect our world more so than the traditional fantasy setting.
My goal will be to do a large season over arch, then a dive into the relevant logic for why I grouped certain chapters together. I suspect I'll be way off the mark when it finally comes, but perhaps along the way I and any readers I gather can enjoy the exercise of trying to fit this much material into a new medium!
There are no beginnings or endings to the Wheel of Time, but this is a beginning...
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